General Description: Speckled Rattlesnakes (Crotalus mitchellii) are most easily recognized by their faded colors and the lack of bold markings on the sides of the face (no white eye stripes). Body marking on the front end are blotches on the back; those on the back end are tiger-stripes on the back and sides. The end of the tail is white with narrow black rings. Individual scales are light-colored with black speckling (the "speckles" on the Speckled Rattlesnake).

These snakes are venomous. Do not attempt to handle rattlesnakes; rather, enjoy your good luck of finding one from a distance (minimum 3 feet away) and leave them alone.

Family: Venomous Snakes (Viperidae).

The two subspecies (comparison photos below) around Las Vegas are recognized by features of the supraocular scale (scale above the eye) and by the nature of the little scales surrounding the rostral scale (the big scale on the tip of the nose).

Panamint Rattlesnakes (C. m. stephensi) have a pit on the supraocular scale and two small scales adjacent to the rostral scale, but these two do not surround the rostral scale.

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnakes (C. m. pyrrhus) have a crease on the supraocular scale and a band of four small scales adjacent to the rostral scale that separate the rostral and prenasal scales.

Diet: Primarily rodents. Larger individuals may take small rabbits; young may feed on lizards.

Habitat: Mojave Desert Scrub, Blackbrush, Sagebrush, and Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands (Upper Sonoran and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland life zones). Primarily found in rocky areas with outcrops and boulders.

Range: Southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico from sea level to 8,000 ft in elevation. Both subspecies occur in southern Nevada. The Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (C. m. pyrrhus), a lighter form, occurs in the central and eastern portions of Clark County (e.g., Lake Mead) from Lincoln County south and east into Mexico and Arizona; while the Panamint Rattlesnake (C. m. stephensi), a darker form, occurs in western Clark County (e.g., Red Rock Canyon NCA) and points west and north into California.

Breeding: Gives birth to 2-11 live young during mid-summer.

Similar Species: Other species of rattlesnake in southern Nevada tend to have more distinct markings on the back, less speckling, and distinct diagonal eye-lines, but definite identification may require counting scales on the snout (not recommended).

Comments: Although rarely seen, Speckled Rattlesnakes are the most common rattlesnakes around Las Vegas. I've only seen a few in my years of hiking.

Rattlesnakes have infrared detectors in pits on the side of the face (between the nostril and eye) that allow them to see the "heat" of warm-blooded animals in total darkness. This makes them look like they have two nasal openings on each side of the face.